Friday, July 22, 2016

Watermelon Bites with Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette | Friday Night Bites

Summer
and watermelon are one of those perfect combinations. The warm air along
with a crisp and cool bite of sweet watermelon is the ultimate in
refreshment. It just screams SUMMER. Since we are in the midst of
summer, I thought that I needed to create a Friday Night Bite to celebrate the
season.

A natural
pairing with watermelon is feta cheese. The briny undertones and the
creamy but dry texture will marry well with a bite of sweet watermelon. I
thought it would need a bit more flavor to give it the pizzazz it needed –
jalapeno and lime would be a natural match.
This was the ticket to making this appetizer incredibly tasty.

Last Friday
night, it was a rather warm evening and hubby and I sat outside with a glass of
wine and these watermelon bites. Hubby
doesn’t lean towards watermelon – not that he doesn’t like it – it is just not
a go to fruit for him. Of course, I
asked him what he thought of it after he tried it and he said that is pretty
darn tasty.

I would
recommend putting the vinaigrette on right before you are going to serve so the
acid in the lime doesn’t break down the watermelon. It is also a good idea to have every
component chilled and then assemble for the perfect bite. I would suggest serving this with a great
French Rose or French Champagne.

Watermelon
Bites with Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette

Serves 16

32 One
inch cubes of watermelon

16 rounds
of ¾ Inch Feta Rounds (4 oz. Block of Feta)

Toothpicks

Jalapeno
Lime Vinaigrette

¼ Cup
Fresh Lime Juice

Zest of
One Lime

1 to 2
Tablespoons Minced Jalapeno (Seeds removed)

1
Tablespoon Honey

¼ teaspoon
Salt

¼ teaspoon
Pepper

Add all
ingredients to a small mason jar and shake well. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Slice the
feta ¼ inch thick slices and use a 3/4th to one inch round cutter to
make your feta circles. Cut the
watermelon into 32 one inch cubes OR purchase pre-cut watermelon.

On a
platter, stack 2 cubes of watermelon and place a circle of the feta on each
one. Secure with a toothpick in the
middle of each one. Drizzle the
vinaigrette over each one and serve.